Dynamic payment device characteristics

ABSTRACT

A payment device is disclosed. It includes a memory including payment data; and a display coupled to the memory. A processor is configured to execute one or more instructions for displaying the payment data on the display. The payment device is in the form of a card.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of and is a non-provisionalof U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/890,138 filed on Feb. 15, 2007,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

As methods and devices for engaging in financial transactions haveincreased and expanded into new horizons, age old problems such as fraudand counterfeiting persist. In fact, as applications and devices aredeveloped making credit or debit based transactions a more attractiveand readily available alternative to cash, fraud and counterfeitingactivities have increased proportionately.

In order to protect financial institutions, consumers and merchants fromthe fraudulent use of transaction cards, the industry has developed andintroduced many features designed to reduce fraud and counterfeitingsuch as holograms, special over-layers, and watermarks. Nonetheless,many of these features are proving to be less effective as financialtransactions are increasingly being conducted in a non-face-to-faceenvironment.

As a result of the introduction of new payment channels, devices andmethods, new tools are needed to reduce fraud within the payment cardindustry. One of the largest challenges will be to prevent unauthorizeduse of payment account data. Current protection methods rely upon staticaccount or authentication data which are vulnerable to multiple forms ofattack.

One of the primary means by which unauthorized use of accountinformation can be prevented is to include data that dynamically changesfrom transaction to transaction. Dynamically changing data makescompromised data essentially worthless for subsequent transactionsbecause such transactions will require alternate data.

In addition, when account information is compromised via hacking,skimming, phishing or any other method, the use of the accountassociated with the compromised card is discontinued and the compromisedcard is replaced. The replacement card will be associated with adifferent account from the one associated with the compromised card andwill display new card characteristics such as a new personal accountnumber, card verification value, and/or expiration date. This requiresthe additional expense of issuing a new card to the cardholder inaddition to requiring the cardholder to wait until a newly issued cardcan be delivered from the issuer of the card.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention address the above-noted problems and otherproblems. In addition, as new applications or functionality may bedeployed on a card, it may be advantageous for the card to include avisible indicator that such functionality is available. For example, ATMcards can display indicators of the ATM systems on which they areoperable, and contactless cards may include indicators that the card cancommunicate contactlessly with external devices. Additionally, issuersof cards may wish to issue cards which display different cardcharacteristics, designs or logos. For instance, issuers may wish toprovide cards that display designs pertaining to the time of year (e.g.,seasonal, etc.), current events (e.g., Olympics, sporting events,holidays, etc.), or for other reasons.

It would also be desirable to be able to change card and account datadynamically. The changed card and account data may then be displayed ona payment device, such as a payment card, in a location at which theconventional static data is usually displayed.

In an embodiment of the invention, a payment device may include, but notrequire, a processor and a display in communication with the processor.The processor may be configured to execute one or more instructions thatchanges card data for use with a transaction and displays the changedcard data on the display. The instructions may be in the form of datawithin a memory on the card.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a payment devicecomprising a memory comprising payment data and non-payment data and adisplay coupled to the memory. A processor is configured to execute oneor more instructions for displaying the payment data and the non-paymentdata on the display. The payment device is in the form of a card.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for forminga payment device in the form of a card. The method comprises mounting amemory and a display on a plastic substrate. The memory comprisespayment data and non-payment data. A processor is configured to executeone or more instructions for displaying the payment data on the display.The instructions may be stored in the memory and may be embodied ascomputer code.

In another embodiment of the invention, a payment device may include amemory and a display. An external processor may be used to change thedata stored on the display in the course of performing transactions.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of using apayment device in the form of a card including a display. The methodcomprises: performing a first transaction between the payment device anda second device (e.g., a POS terminal) using a first value (e.g., afirst CVV value) displayed on the display; generating a second value(e.g., a second CVV value); displaying the second value on the display;performing a second transaction using the second value; and displayingnon-payment data (e.g., a logo, or coupon) on the display.

These and other embodiments of the invention are described in furtherdetail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary payment device according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a system including an exemplary payment device accordingto another embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a method of using a payment service in a systemcomprising a payment device and a second device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this application, the term “payment device” can mean aneasily portable device which may be used in a transaction as describedherein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, “paymentdevice” can include a device in the form of a card such as a magneticstripe card, an integrated circuit card (also commonly known as asmartcard), a memory card, etc. The payment device may also be in theform of a credit card, debit card, stored value card, prepaid card, etc.

For purposes of this application, “contactless” or “wireless” can meanany communications method or protocol, including proprietary protocols,in which data is exchanged between two devices without the need for thedevices to be physically coupled. Without limiting the generality of theforegoing, “contactless” or “wireless” can include data transmissions bylaser, radio frequency, infrared communications, Bluetooth, or wirelesslocal area network.

For purposes of this application, the term “payment service” can meanany application deployed on a payment device which causes the exchangeof data between the payment device and any other device for theperformance of a financial transaction.

For purposes of this application, “payment data” can mean those dataelements used by the payment service to execute a transaction. Forexample and without limitation, “payment data” could include the primaryaccount number, account name, expiration date, service codes,discretionary data, and the various forms of card verification values(referred to herein as “CVVs”). Payment data may also includeinformation for multiple accounts or account users, in which case thepayment data would include multiple account numbers, account names, orbank names.

For purposes of this application, the term “non-payment data” can meanthose data elements that are stored on the payment device, but that arenot necessary to conduct a transaction. Non-payment data could, however,be used in a transaction. For example and without limitation,“non-payment data” may include bank logos, coupons, or service logos.Such non-payment data may be used as part of a transaction, but may notbe strictly necessary to conduct the transaction. For example, a couponcould be used in a transaction to provide a discount. However, a couponis not necessary to conduct the transaction.

Storing “payment data” and “non-payment data” in a memory on a card andsubsequently displaying such data on a display on the card isadvantageous. By doing so, much more information includingauthentication information, branding information, and rewardsinformation can be provided through the display on the card, thus makingthe card more functional. Also, as suggested herein, cardsadvantageously need not be re-issued if account data or the like iscompromised.

I. Payment Devices and Methods

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary payment device according to an embodiment ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a payment device 500 may include aprocessor 512 and a display 510 in communication with the processor 512.The processor 512 may be embedded within the payment device 500 (betweena plastic substrate and a cover sheet) and may include any electroniccircuit or microprocessor capable of driving the display 510 to displayone or more card characteristics. A memory 514 may be operativelycoupled to the processor 512. The memory 514 may be a rewritable memorysuch as an EEPROM and may be in the form of a memory chip.

The processor 512 may be a combination of processors if, for instance,one processor is used solely to drive the display, and a secondprocessor is used to perform other operations. These other operationscould include, for instance, operations related to the payment service,cryptographic operations, operations related to other applications whichmay be deployed on the card, or any other application that may be usefulor advisable to deploy in relation to the card.

Although the processor 512 and the memory 514 are shown as separatefunctional blocks, it is understood that they may be embodied as onecomputer chip, or more than one computer chip.

As shown in FIG. 1, a magnetic stripe 520 may also be present in thepayment device 500. The magnetic stripe 520 may contain payment datasuch as a static CVV, account number, etc.

The display 510 (e.g., an LED or LCD display) may be embedded in thepayment device 500. Because the payment data may be dynamicallygenerated for each transaction and stored in the memory 514, a personconducting a transaction may be required to physically possess the cardin order to provide the proper payment data for the transaction. Forinstance, a person may be required to provide the correct CVV to amerchant before the transaction can be completed.

The display 510 may include any display sized to be used with a paymentdevice 500. In an embodiment, the display 510 may be sized tosimultaneously display at least the number of digits (e.g., 3 or 4digits) used in a CVV. It will be apparent to those of skill in the artthat the display 510 can be sized and placed as appropriate, consideringthe card characteristics to be displayed.

A CVV is an example of payment data, since it is needed to conduct apayment transaction. Other examples of payment data include an accountnumber, a name, an expiration date, etc. Processes for forming and usingCVV values such as DCVV values are described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/642,878 filed on Aug. 18, 2003, which is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The display may be used to display non-payment data as well. It may bedesirable to change the functionality of the card, in which case thedisplay 510 could show, for instance, an ATM logo, signifying to a userwhether the payment device is ATM capable. The payment device 500 may bere-branded, in which case the display 510 may show the issuer's newlogo. Holograms could also be displayed on the display 510. Inembodiments of the invention, not every card characteristic needs to bedisplayed on the display 510. Other card characteristic data may beprinted or embossed on the payment device 500.

Other examples of non-payment data include coupons or other reward basedmessages. In some embodiments, the reward messages may be machinereadable (e.g., messages in the form of two or three dimensional barcodes).

Another example of non-payment data that can be stored in the memory 514and that can be displayed on the display 510 is account balanceinformation.

In embodiments of the invention, payment data and non-payment data maybe displayed sequentially or on the same display 510. For example, insome embodiments, a logo may be displayed on the display 510 and then aCVV may be displayed on the display 510. In other embodiments, the logoand CVV may be displayed on the same display 510.

Alternatively, the payment device 500 may include a plurality ofdisplays (not shown), each of which is in communication with theprocessor 512. For instance, in another embodiment of the invention, thepayment device 500 may include two displays, each of which is like thedisplay 510. One display can be used to display the account number andthe other display can be used to display the CVV. In such an embodiment,not only could a new CVV be generated and displayed for each transactionbut, if the account number is compromised, a new account number could becreated and subsequently displayed without re-issuing a new paymentdevice.

On the other hand, one display 510 may be used to display multiple cardcharacteristics. For instance, if the payment device 500 is a creditcard, a single large display 510 on the front of the payment device 500may display the account name, account number, bank name, and bank logo.

In another embodiment of the invention, the display 512 maybe located onthe payment device 100 at a location commonly associated with thedisplayed card characteristic. For instance, if the payment device 512is a credit card, the display 510 may be placed near the rightmost endof a signature block, on the back of the payment device 500, to displaya CVV value. An additional display 510 may be placed on the front of thepayment device 500 to display the account number and/or other cardcharacteristics, if desired.

The processor 512 can communicate with an external or second device suchas a POS terminal using commercially available contact and contactlesscommunication technologies. In addition, the processor 512 may bepowered via a contactless element (e.g., an inductive coupling element)or a power source 508 such as a battery, which resides in the paymentdevice 500.

In an embodiment of the invention, the payment device 500 does not havea built-in power source. It is instead powered by inductive coupling. Inthis case, it is desirable to use a display technology that does notrequire a constant power source. One solution to this requirement is theuse of a bistable display. A bistable display is characterized in that,after power is removed from the bistable display, the image displayedwhile the bistable display was powered remains on the display. Bistabledisplays are known in the art and are available from, e.g., Nemoptics(France) or ZBD Displays Ltd. (United Kingdom).

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention. Payment device 800includes a display 810 and a memory 820. The payment device 800 issimilar to the payment device 500 discussed above. However, here thedisplay 810 is driven by a processor 906 external to the payment device800. The external processor 906 may reside in an access device 908(e.g., a POS terminal) at a merchant, but it may reside anywhere, solong as the processor 908 is able to drive the display 810. The accessdevice 908 shown in FIG. 2 also includes output devices 906 (e.g., adisplay, speaker, etc.), input devices 916 (e.g., a keypad with buttons)and a contactless element 912 operatively coupled to the processor 906.As noted above, the external processor 906 may drive the display 810 bycommunicating via any method including, without limitation, contact andcontactless methods. For example, the external processor 906 may send asignal to the contactless element 812 in the payment device 800 via thecontactless element 912 in the access device 908.

It is noted that payment device 800 may optionally incorporate memory820 as well. This memory 820 would be in communication with theprocessor 906 (during use) and could be used to store cardcharacteristics (e.g., payment and non-payment data). This data could beused, for instance and without limitation, by the processor 906 ingenerating updated payment data and/or card characteristics. Acontactless element 812 such as an antenna may be operatively coupled tothe memory 820. The contactless element 812 can communicate with thecontactless element 912 that is in the access device 908.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for forminga payment device in the form of a card. Various manufacturing methodsmay be used. However, in one embodiment of the invention, the methodcomprises mounting a memory and a display on a plastic substrate. Theplastic substrate may comprise any suitable plastic material. The memorycomprises payment data and non-payment data. As noted above, a processoris configured to execute one or more instructions for displaying thepayment data on the display. After mounting the memory on the plasticsubstrate, a plastic sheet can be laminated over the plastic substrateso that the memory and the display are sandwiched between the plasticsubstrate and the plastic sheet. The plastic sheet may be transparent ormay have a hole in it so that the display can be seen through theplastic sheet. A payment card can thereafter be formed.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, data (such as coupon data)may be loaded into the memories 514, 820 in any suitable manner. Forexample, an issuer may load payment or non-payment data into thememories at issuance. In another embodiment, the entities such asmerchants and the like may load data such as coupon data using an accessdevice such as a POS terminal using a contact-based or contactlesstechnology. In another embodiment, the payment devices 500, 800 may havelong range antennas which may allow the data in the memories 514, 820 tobe updated and/or supplemented.

FIG. 3 shows a process of utilizing a payment device 500 (see FIG. 1) toperform a transaction according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the payment device 500 includes a display510 to show a CVV value. At step 305, the payment device 500 is poweredfrom a power source 508 (whether internal or external). At step 310, atransaction is performed using the CVV shown on display 510. At step320, a new CVV is generated. In an embodiment, the new CVV is generatedby the processor 512, and is initiated by a signal from a terminal (notshown). At step 330, the processor 512 drives the display 510 to showthe new CVV. At step 335, the payment device 500 can be disconnectedfrom the power source if desired. The display 510 preferably displaysthe new CVV even after being disconnected from the power source. It isapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that step 310 mayalternatively be performed after step 335.

It is understood that the present invention as described above can beimplemented in the form of control logic using computer software in amodular or integrated manner. Based on the disclosure and teachingsprovided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know andappreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the present inventionusing hardware and a combination of hardware and software

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication, may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java, C++ or Perl using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructions,or commands on a computer readable medium, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as ahard-drive or a floppy disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one ormore features of any other embodiment without departing from the scopeof the invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

1. A payment device comprising: a memory comprising payment data for anaccount and non-payment data for the account; a bistable display coupledto the memory; and an element operatively coupled to the display, theelement configured to communicate with a processor, wherein theprocessor is external to the payment device and is configured to executeone or more instructions for displaying the payment data and thenon-payment data on the bistable display, the non-payment data includinga balance for the account, the payment data including a first value thatis displayed, the processor further configured to execute one or moreinstructions for changing the payment data for the account to a secondvalue, and one or more instructions for displaying the second value onthe bistable display, wherein the payment device is in the form of acard, further wherein the payment device does not have a built-in powersource.
 2. The payment device of claim 1 wherein the memory is arewritable memory.
 3. The payment device of claim 1 wherein thenon-payment data comprises a coupon.
 4. The payment device of claim 1wherein the payment data comprises a card verification value.
 5. Thepayment device of claim 1 wherein the payment data comprises a dynamiccard verification value.
 6. The payment device of claim 1 wherein thepayment device is in the form of a contactless card.
 7. The paymentdevice of claim 1 wherein the payment data comprises authenticationdata.
 8. The payment device of claim 1 wherein the element comprises anantenna coupled to the memory.
 9. The payment device of claim 1 furthercomprising an inductive coupling element configured to power the paymentdevice.
 10. The payment device of claim 1, wherein the element comprisesa contactless element.
 11. The payment device of claim 10, wherein thecontactless element comprises an inductive coupling element, furtherwherein the payment device is powered through the contactless element.12. A method for forming a payment device in the form of a card, themethod comprising: mounting a memory, an element configured tocommunicate with a processor, and a bistable display on a plasticsubstrate, wherein the memory comprises payment data for an account andnon-payment data for the account; wherein the processor is external tothe payment device and is configured to execute one or more instructionsfor displaying the payment data and the non payment data on the bistabledisplay, the non-payment data including a balance for the account, thepayment data including a first value that is displayed, the processorfurther configured to execute one or more instructions for changing thepayment data for the account to a second value, and one or moreinstructions for displaying the second value on the bistable display,wherein the payment device does not have a built-in power source.
 13. Amethod of using the payment device of claim 1 comprising: conducting atransaction using the payment device.
 14. A method of using a paymentdevice in the form of a card including a bistable display, the methodcomprising: performing a first transaction between the payment deviceand a second device using a first value displayed on the bistabledisplay, the first value associated with an account, wherein the paymentdevice does not have a built-in power source; generating, using thesecond device, a second value associated with the account; displayingthe second value on the bistable display, wherein the second devicecauses the bistable display to activate and display the second value;performing a second transaction using the second value; and displayingnon-payment data on the bistable display, wherein the non-payment dataincludes a balance for the account, and wherein the second device causesthe bistable display to activate and display the non-payment data. 15.The method of claim 14 wherein the first value is a card verificationvalue.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first value is exactly 3digits.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the payment device is acontactless card.
 18. The method of claim 14 further comprisingdisplaying a coupon on the display.
 19. The method of claim 14 whereinthe bistable display is an LED display.
 20. The method of claim 14wherein the second device comprises a processor that causes the displayto activate.
 21. The method of claim 14 wherein the second devicecomprises a processor that is external to the payment device.
 22. Themethod of claim 21 wherein the second device is an access device,further wherein the processor drives the bistable display via acontactless element.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-paymentdata includes a three dimensional bar code for display on the bistabledisplay.